Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old seventh-grader from Dallas, Texas, was crowned the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion after flawlessly spelling the French word éclaircissement — meaning “enlightenment” — in the 21st and final round of the prestigious competition.
Zaki, who attends C.M. Rice Middle School, claimed the coveted Scripps Cup along with US$50,000 in prize money and a commemorative medal, besting over 240 spellers from across the United States and beyond.
As the word was announced, Faizan’s eyes lit up. Without asking for any clarifications, he launched into the spelling, miming keystrokes with calm precision. His only giveaway was a slight tremble in his voice. When the final letter was declared correct, he collapsed to the stage floor in joy as confetti rained from the ceiling.
“I don’t even know what I’m going to say. I’m just really happy,” Zaki said, visibly shaking as he clutched the giant ceramic trophy.
This victory was four years in the making. Faizan first appeared at the national bee in 2019, tying for 370th place. In 2023 and 2024, he returned, finishing second last year in a dramatic tiebreaker. This year, he completed his spelling journey in triumph, becoming the fifth contestant to win the bee a year after placing second.
His parents, Arshia Quadri and Zaki Anwar, have supported his spelling journey from the start, turning a family activity into a lifelong passion. “He loves learning and words,” said Quadri in a past interview.
“We just wanted him to experience the bee and be happy.”
Faizan’s win also cements Texas’s dominance in the bee, marking the state’s 17th national champion — more than any other.
Zaki’s friend and last year’s winner, Bruhat Soma, praised him with a touch of humour: “I think he cared too much about his aura.” Meanwhile, his father summed it up simply:
“He’s the GOAT. He knows the dictionary in and out.”
For Faizan, the bee is more than a competition.
“The Spelling Bee is my life.”
The 2025 Spelling Bee marks the 100th anniversary of the first national competition, which began with just 9 spellers and has since grown to involve millions of students nationwide. This year’s iconic contest was held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in suburban Maryland.
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